Educational Science

There may be a genetic explanation for why John Wick (played in the film series by Keanu Reeves) cared so much about his puppy that he embarked on a murderous rampage after a team of hit men killed the innocent pup. OK, maybe not. But scientists did recently discover that...

Stone Age dog may have been buried with its master

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Stone Age dog that was buried alongside a human in a settlement in what is now southern Sweden. That honorary position suggests the dog wasn't wild; rather, it likely lived amongst people about 8,400 years ago. This is one of the oldest grave...

Disease outbreaks among humans are common. But outbreaks among humans from puppies? That's a scenario that's much rarer, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently explained how this odd outbreak persisted for three years, in a new report, published Sept. 21. Between 2016 and 2018, 118 people in...

Is Your Dog Super Smart? No, LOL

Dogs are smart. But they ain't special. Scientists recently examined hundreds of studies on dog intelligence and compared them to research into the minds of other smart animals. The researchers found that dogs are among the smarter carnivores, social hunters and domestic animals — but that they don't stand out...

Chocolate Labs Are Less Healthy Than Their Black and Yellow Puppy Pals

The color of a dog's coat could be linked to its health — at least for one globally popular pet. Chocolate Labrador retrievers tend to live shorter lives and have a higher rate of skin and ear diseases than their black or yellow-coated peers, according to a new study published...

Pet Dog with Plague Exposed More Than 100 Veterinary Workers to the Disease

A sick dog in Colorado caused alarm at a veterinary hospital when doctors realized the animal was infected with a rare and deadly illness: the plague. What's more, the dog had contact with more than 100 people before its illness was discovered, potentially exposing them to the serious infection, according...

Your Dog Can Get Sick from Marijuana. Here's How to Prevent Pot Poisoning.

If you live with a pet, there is a good chance you consider it to be a member of your family. It is well established that companion animals, ranging from cats and dogs through to birds and rodents, can have a positive health benefit in our lives. When cannabis was...

Puppies are born with a knack for reading human gestures

If you've ever felt that your dog just seems to get you in a special way, you'd be right. Dog puppies have an aptitude for understanding human gestures that isn't seen in their closest relatives, wolves, even when wolf pups are raised by humans, a new study finds. Dog puppies...

People Are Feeding Their Dogs Grain-Free Diets, and It May Be Bad for Their Hearts

Gluten-free diets are going to the dogs: So-called grain-free dog foods have become popular these days, but the diets may not be good for some pooches' hearts. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is investigating a link between grain-free dog foods — which have ingredients...

Chinese Researchers Cloned the 'Sherlock Holmes of Police Dogs', and She Is a Very Good Girl

How does a provincial police department build a small army of detective dogs as savvy as Sherlock Holmes? Why, it's elementary, my dear Watson (and Crick). Simply clone the best dog on the force. Scientists in China are already on the case. According to a report on the state-owned news...